Poison Ivy's Far Too Serious for Spoofing; Sufferers Are Angry

Published: July 19, 1994

To the Editor:

I agree most wholeheartedly with Gary Krist and his defense of the use of poison ivy ("Poison Ivy Myths: Up in Smoke," Op-Ed, July 7).

I am sick and tired that just because I have poison ivy, when I'm at work, I have to leave my office to go outside to scratch. And I am appalled at how many restaurants have become such goody-two-shoes and have gone poison ivy free. Also, I resent being looked upon as if I were the lowest form of low-life when I ask to be seated in the poison ivy section.

And now poison ivy growers are accused of adding extra itching compounds to make it more addictive and the scratching more satisfactory.

Can you imagine that they are banning poison ivy vending machines just because some underage kids are getting their hands on it? How much Big Brother government can we take, and who does the Surgeon General think she is? SKIP UNGAR Scotch Plains, N.J., July 9, 1994